The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspects over their alleged involvement in the possession and sale of human body parts, in what authorities described as a disturbing criminal network uncovered in parts of Lagos Island.
The suspects, aged between 34 and 48, were reportedly apprehended in March by detectives from the Adeniji Adele Divisional Police Station following intelligence-led operations.
According to reports, the principal suspect—a 46-year-old man alleged to be a supplier within the illicit trade—was intercepted during a stop-and-search operation on Bamgbose Street in the Lagos Island area, where he was found in possession of suspected human body parts.
A police source disclosed that the suspect claimed he sourced the remains from abandoned or unclaimed corpses, stating that he retrieved human remains from locations such as under the Adeniji Adele bridge and other areas across the state.
The suspect further alleged that he dismembers the bodies and sells the parts to buyers, with prices reportedly around ₦10,000, targeting individuals who use them for ritual purposes.
The source also revealed that the suspect admitted to using the remains in the preparation of “black soap,” which he claimed was sold to customers seeking spiritual favour, protection, or other perceived supernatural benefits.
Investigations revealed that the suspect’s confession led police to arrest three additional individuals, identified as buyers within the illegal network.
The three suspects reportedly admitted to purchasing human body parts, stating that the items were supplied through a wider network of collaborators, some of whom are still at large and being pursued by law enforcement.
Following the arrests, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatia Tijani, ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further and more detailed investigation.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Dayo Akinbisehin, confirmed that the recovered corpse linked to the case had been deposited in a morgue for proper handling and forensic procedures.
He added that investigations have been concluded at the preliminary stage, and the suspects are expected to be charged to court for prosecution.
Akinbisehin also stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large, emphasizing that the police are committed to dismantling such criminal networks.
Reaffirming the command’s stance, he warned that anyone involved in similar unlawful activities would face the full weight of the law.
He further urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies to aid ongoing efforts to maintain law and order.
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